North Texas SC signs Thomas Pondeka to MLS NEXT Pro professional contract

FRISCO, TX (March 10, 2023) – North Texas SC signed open trial player Thomas Pondeka for the upcoming 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season with a club option for the 2024 season. According to the team’s policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pondeca becomes the fifth open litigation party that North Texas SC has signed since 2019.

Pondeka, 21, made his USMNT futsal debut on March 3, 2020 against Slovakia. At the 2021 CONCACAF Futsal Championship, Pondeca won the young players award presented by Scotiabank. During the competition, he scored twice against USMNT and helped qualify for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania. Pondeca registered 17 matches and six goals for USMNT futsal.

“Thomas attended our 2023 open tryout and showed himself to be a really interesting player,” said North Texas SC general manager Matt Denny. “He scored in two of our three pre-season games. He has continued to demonstrate his ability in training ever since he was invited to our pre-season camp as a trial.”

Pondeka attended Marcus High School and played in the varsity program between 2016 and 2020. He scored 18 goals in 45 games for the Marauders during his sophomore and junior years. In 2019, Pondeca was named one of Allstate’s 250 Americans in the nation. Pondeca was named to the District 6-6A First Team for the 2019 season.

TRANSACTION DETAILS
Full name: Thomas Pondeca
Pronunciation: toh-mass pon-deh-cah
Contact Thomas: Twitter | Instagram
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: October 10, 2001 (21)
Place of Birth: Tucson, Arizona
Hometown: Flower Hill, Texas
Nationality: American
Height: 5’19”
Weight: 170 pounds
Last club: Paris Acasa
Deal: North Texas SC signs linebacker Thomas Pondeka to an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2023 season.